Hi,
I've been fascinated by alternative architectures and energies for a
long time --and I've taken classes in alternate energy (where we had
to build our own solar water heater, solar oven, and a few different
designs for parabolic solar cookers < in which the design probably
could have benefited from papercrete for the construction! >).
When my family and I lived in southern New Mexico, I devised a sort
of makeshift solar air-heater (using cardboard boxes, clear plastic
sheets, and black plastic garbage bags) that worked relatively well
(for a "prototype"). I wish I had gotten a picture of the thing
<sigh>.
Now I'm in the SF Bay Area of California.. different energy needs--
although I think the same solar air heater would work here.
I was thinking about the comments about the shades for your windows
(on the home being discussed in previous posts). Interesting.
Has anyone thought that you could have a "thermal mass" next to the
south-facing windows? During the winter days, sunlight would come in
and heat the thermal mass, which would later release the heat into
the living area after the sunset. (The windows could be curtained
with insulating material after sunset to keep the radiated heat
within the dwelling.) If a solar-powered (of course) fountain was
placed against the inside-facing side of the thermal mass, during
the summer this could run a sheet of soothing water over the thermal
mass... the resulting evaporation would cause a cooling effect for
those hot summer days. Ah well.. just theorizing here.
Regards,
Dave Gardner (aka "EditorDave")
http://www.squidoo.com/Energy_Independence/
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